Go-cart or perambulator.



A. J. ADAMS. GO-CAET 0R PERAMBULATOR.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 2, 1910.

PH 50.. WASHINGTON n c A. J. ADAMS. GO-GART 0B. PERAMBULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2, 1910.

Patented Apr. 14,1914.

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I A. J. ADAMS.

GO-CART OR PERAMBULATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 2, 1910. 1,093,093. Patented Apr. 14, 1914.

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, TRUSTEES.

, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0

NDIANA, AND ALEXANDER B. LEITH, OF

GO-CART OR PERAMBULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 14, 1914.

Application filed March 2, 1910. Serial No. 546,925.

citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Go-Garts or Perambulators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to folding perambulators, go-carts or baby carriages; and my primary object is to provide such ago-cart of improved general construction and operation and which can be manufactured at low cost.

The invention is illustrated in its preferried embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of a go-cart constructed in accordance with my invention, certain of the parts being shown brokenly; Fig. 2, a plan perspective view showing the detailed construction of the running-gear frame; Fig. 3, a broken sectional view taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a plan sectional view taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 1 and showing the running-gear frame and certain attached parts; Fig. 5, a broken sectional view showing the seat and attendant parts, the section being taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a broken sectional view taken as indicated at line 6 of Fig. 4 and showing a detail of the locking means employed for securing the superstructure of the go-cart in extended or uncollapsed condition; Fig. 7, a broken side elevational view illustrating the foot rest adjustment employed, said view showing the foot-rest in the elevated position; and Fig. 8, a side elevational view, somewhat broken, showing the go-cart partially collapsed.

In the preferred construction, which is that illustrated, A represents a runninggear frame; B, wheels mounted 011 forks B which are adapted to fold in pairs transverscly beneath the running-gear frame in a well understood manner; C, a handle pivotally connected with the rear portion of the running-gear frame and adapted to fold forwardly upon the running-gear frame; D, a seat, which in the illustration given, is supported on springs carried by an intermediate cross-member of the runninggear frame; E, a seat-back flexibly connected with the rear portion of the seat; F, arms, or links, the rear ends of which are pivotally joined to the handlebars and the front ends of which are pivotally joined to links F which have their lower ends pivotally connected with intermediate portions of the running-gear frame; G, a locking-device for securing the superstructure of the go-cart in the extended or uncollapsed condition; H, an adjustable foot-rest; and I, a collapsible top, or canopy, foldably mounted on the arms F.

In the preferred construction, the runhing-gear frame A comprises a steel bar which is bent into approximate U-form, thus affording side-bars, or members, 1 and a front cross-member, or web, 2; a rear cross-bar 3 joining the side-bars l at or near the junction with the rear wheel-forks, said bar 3 having rearwardly turned ends 4 which are riveted to the bars 1; and an intermediate cross-bar 5 which connects the side-bars 1 at or near the junctions with the front wheel-forks, said bar 5 having rear- .wardly turned ends 6 which are connected by rivets to the side-bars 1. The front end portions of the members 1 are curved upwardly edgewise, as indicated at 7, so that the front cross-member 2 will be supported somewhat above the plane of the bars 1.

To afford means of attachment for the wheel-forks B, I provide bracket-members 9 which are attached to the side-bars 1 and also to the cross-bars 3 and 5. Each bracket member 8 comprises a sheet metal stamping having an upright web portion 9 with an offset upper end 10 which is riveted to the bar 1, said web 9 having inturned flanges 11 from the upper ends of which extend brace-members, or arms, 12 which are secured to the cross-bar by a rivet 13. The end portion 10 is secured to the side-bar 1 by rivets 14, and the Wheel-fork lies be tween the inturned flanges 11 and is connected therewith by a pivot 15. When the wheel-fork is in the upright position, it bears against the inner surface of the lower end portion of the web 9. The handle G preferably comprises side-bars 16 and a cross-bar 17 joining the upper ends thereof. The rear end portions of the side-bars 1 of the running-gear frame are curved u wardly and connected with the lower encs of the handle-bars 16 by pivots 18.

The wheel-forks are connected in pairs at opposite sides of the cart by means of longitudinal bars 19, so that the pair of wheels at each side of the cart is adapted to fold as a unit upwardly and inwardly beneath the running-gear frame. Any suitable means for bracing the wheel-forks crosswise with relation to the go-cart may be employed. In the illustration given, 20 designates a portion of collapsible linkmechanism of well known construction, which may serve to brace the wheel-fork transversely,

In the illustration given, the seat D is mounted on leaf-springs 21 which are disposed approximately in a horizontal plane, and which have downturned front ends 22 which are secured by rivets 23 to the crossbar 5.

It will be observed that the rear ends of the springs 21 are located a sufficient distance above the plane of the running-gear frame to afford a space 24-, the purpose of which will be presently explained.

The lower portion of the back E is joined to the rear portion of the seat by a flexible connection 25, and the upper portion of the back is equipped on its rear surface with loops, or guides, 26 which extend longitudinally with relation to the back. Working in the loops, or guides, 26 is the web 27 of a U-shaped rod, or link, which has arms 28 having hooked extremities 29 which engage the perforations with which the arms F are provided near their rear ends, so that the arms 28 are pivotally connected with the arms F. \Vhen the cross-portion, or web portion, 27 of said U-shaped link is at the lower ends of the guides 26, the seat-back is maintained in the standing position shown in Fig. 1. When desired, the member 27 may be swung upwardly in the guides 26 and the back brought to the intermediate reclinin position and the lower reclining position inc icated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. operation of folding the cart, the back simply swings forward from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the cross-member 27 remaining at the lower ends of the guides 26 during this operation until the handle approaches close to the running-gear frame, whereupon the member 27 slides forwardly somewhat in the guides 26.

The arms F afford side-arms for the carriage body and also serve to support the flexible side-members, or flaps, 30 which flank the space above the seat. Said arms F are connected at their rear ends by pivots 31with the handle-bars 16 and at their front ends by pivots 32 with the upper ends of the links F. As shown, the upper edge portions of the side fiaps 30 are connected with In the cavities, or spaces, 35 at their front edges which are adapted to accommodate the crossbar 5 1n the collapsed condition ofthe carriage. It will be noted that the lower portions of the handle-bars 16 and the links F form substantially parallel links, while the arms F and the rear. portions of the side bars 1 of the running-gear frame afford substantially parallel links, so that the collapsing action of the cart may be obtained by a well known parallel-link movement.

The lower edge portions of the flaps 3 0- embrace the seat and depend somewhat beneath the seat, andthe rear portions of. said flaps are connected by a cross-bar 36 which is adapted to move freely beneath the seat during the operation of collapsing the cart.

This will be readily understood froma contemplation of Figs. 5 and 8.

extended,- or uncollapsed, position comprises a pair of links, or arms, 37 which extend through guides 38 and. have their rear ends joined by pivots 39 to the lower portio-nsof the links F. As appears from Fig. 6, each guide 38 comprises a U-shaped member which has the extremities of its downturned arms secured by a stud 40 to the corresponding side-bar 1, the arms of said member being spaced apart to receive the loeking-bar 37 and the stud 40 extending through said space to afford 'a locking-shoulder. The lower edges of the locking-bars 37 are provided with locking-notches 41 adapted to engage the studs 40. In the upper portions of the guides 88 are located followers 42 which are engaged by springs 43 and which serve to press the locking-bars 37 against the studs 40. The arms 37 are extended underneath thefront cross-bar 2 of the runing-gear frame, and are connected at their front ends by a cross-bar l which may be formed integral with the locking-bars 37.,

The locking-bars 37 and cross-bar 44: thus form a bail, or U-shaped member, the rear ends of whose arms are pivotally connected with the links F. The web, or cross-member, 44 of said U-shaped member is normally located a short distance beneath the cross-bar 2, as will be understood from Fig. 1, so that when it is desired to release the locking-bars, the web 4.4 and front cross-bar 2 of the running-gear frame may be simultaneously grasped with one hand, and when The device G employed to secure the handle and superstructure of the go-cart in the pressed together a release of the locking-bars will be effected.

The frame of the foot-rest H is of U-shape form having a front web portion and rearwardly extending arms 46 which have pivotal connections 47 with the intermediate cross-bar and a flexible boot portion 48 suspended from said U-shape frame and the front portion of the seat. Said boot portion 48 comprises a front flap 49 suspended from the web, or crossbar, 45 of the frame, a flexible bottom member 50 connecting the lower edge portion of the flap 49 with the front edge portion of the seat; and sideflaps 51 of triangular form whose upper edge portions extend from the extremities of the web 45 to the junction with the front edge of the seat. In Fig. 1, I have shown a footboard 52 applied to the inner surface of the front flap 49 of the foot-support pouch, or boot. The frame for the foot-support may comprise a wire rod bent to afford the web 45-and arms 46; and the pivotal connections 47 may be afforded by providing hooks at the rear ends of the arms 46 Which engage eyes carried by the cross-member 5.

The means shown for supporting the footrest in the elevated position comprise a member which may be formed by bending a rod to afford a web portion 54 and arms The web 54 is connected by eyes 56 with the web portion 44 of the locking-bail. The arms extend through the front portion of the running-gear frame and are located, when the foot-rest is in the raised position, adjacent to'the cross-bar 2. At the upper ends of the arms 55 are elongated loops, or eyes, 57 through which the arms 46 of the foot-rest frame extend. The arms 46 are bent a short distance from the web 45, as indicated at 58. When the fo0trest is in the elevated position, the loops 57 of the arms 55 engage the sharply inclined front portions of the arms 46 and thus brace the foot-rest in the elevated position. In the operation of collapsing the carriage, the arms 55 engage the cross-bar 2 of the running-gear frame, causing the arms 55 to swing about the pivots 56, in which movement the loops 5? slide along the arms 46 of the foot-rest frame, so that the foot-rest frame is thereby automatically lowered.

The carriage-top I comprises an intermediate how 59 which is rigidly secured to the members 60 and joined by pivots 61 to clips 62 rigidly secured to the bars F; front and rear bows 63 and 64 respectively, which are pivotally connected with the pivot-members 60; and a flexible covering 65 applied to the said bows. Toggle-links 66 connecting the front and rear bows serve to extend the carriage-top, and the carriage-top is adapted to collapse and extend between the handle-bars in the operation of folding the go-cart, as shown in Fig. 8.

The manner of operating the structure will be readily understood. When desired, the foot-rest may be raised from the position shown in Fig. 1, to the elevated position shown in Fig. 7, the supporting-arms 55 being simultaneously swung to the supporting position. Also, the back may be dropped to the reclining position in the manner stated above. hen it is desired to collapse the cart, the back is brought to a standing position and the carriage-top is collapsed. The operator may then grasp the handle 17 of the carriage with one hand and the front crossbar of the running-gear frame and the web portion of the looking-bail with the other hand, whereupon the locking device will be released by the closing action of the hand, and the running-gear frame and hair dle may then be swung together, in which operation the superstructure of the ge -cart will be folded. In this operation, the supporting members 55 of the footrest will be engaged by the front member 2 of the running-gear frame and the foot-rest will be antomatically depressed. In the folding operation, the back swings forwardly so as to rest upon the seat, and in the collapsing operation the side-flaps 30 are folded, the crossbar 36 attached to the lower edge portions of the side-flaps moving forward beneath the seat within the space 24. After the superstructure has been folded, or before, if desired, the Wheel-forks may be folded inwardly beneath the running-gear frame in the usual manner.

The structure described is strong, durable and may be cheaply manufactured; and the manipulation of the structiiire in the folding and unfolding operations is readily effected.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no undue limitation should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

\Vhat I regardas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In means of the character set forth, the combination of a running-gear frame, a handle pivotally connected with the rear end portion of said frame and adapted to fold forwardly thereon, foldable links connecting the handle and running-gear frame, and locking-bars connected with said links and engaging locking means carried by the running-gear frame, said locking-bars having forward extensions and a cross-bar disposed in close relation to the front member of the running-gear frame, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a running-gear frau'ie, a handle pivotally connected with the rear portion thereof and adapted to fold forwardly upon the running-ge. r frame, arms pivotally connected with the handle-bars, links connecting the front portions of said arms and the running-gear frame at a distance from the front end thereof, guides carried by the front portion of the running-gear frame and provided thereat with locking-shoulders, and locking-bars connected with said links and extending through said guides and provided with notches adapted to engage said lockingshoulders, said locking-bars having forward extensions connected by a crossbar, for the purpose set forth.

3. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a running-gear frame, a handle pivotally connected with the rear portion thereof, arms pivotally connected at their rear ends to the handle-bars, links pivotally joined to the front ends of said arms and to the running-gear frame, guides applied to the inner sides of the side-bars of the running-gear frame near the front ends thereof, and a U-form locking-member extending through said guides and having its arms pivotally connected with said links and having a web disposed near the front crossmember of the running-gear frame.

4;. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a running-gear frame, a handle pivotally connected with the rear portion thereof, links foldably connected with each other and with the runninggear frame and handle, guides carried by the front portion of the running-gem. frame and equipped with spring-followers and looking-studs, and a U-shaped lockingmember comprising a cross-member disposed near the front crossanember of the running-gear frame and arms extending through said guides and pivotally connected with said links, said arms having their lower edges provided with locking-notches, for the purpose set forth.

5. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination with a running-gear frame and a fold-able superstructure mounted thereon, of a foot-support comprising a frame having a front cross-member and rearwardly extending arms pivotally supported at their rear ends, and pivotally mounted arms extending through the front end portion of the runninggear frame and loosely engaging the front cross-member thereof, whereby the foot-rest will be automatically lowered in the operation of folding the structure.

6. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a running-gear frame comprising side members and a front cross-member, a handle pivotally joined to the rear portion of the ruiming-gear frame and adapted to fold forwardly thereon, links pivotally connected with each other and with said handle, a U-shaped lockingmember having its arms pivotally con- 5 nected with said links and disposed in close relation to said frame, said arms extending through the front portion of the runninggear frame, and a foot-support comprising a U-shaped member having its arms pivotally attached, a pouch supported by said last-named U-shaped member, and arms piw otally connected with said U-shaped lockingmember and extending through the front portion of said runninggear frame and having slidable engagement with the U-shap'ed member of the foot-support.

7 In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a running-gear frame comprising side-members having upeurve-d front ends and a cross-member oining said front ends, a handlepivotally con-, nected with the rear portion of the running gear frame, links pivotally connected with each other and with said handle and running-gear frame, a U-shaped locking-member having arms extending through the front portion of the running-gear frameand pivotally connected with said links, and a foot-support comprising a front crossmember and rearwardly extending, pivotally attached arms, and bracing-arms for the foot-rest pivotally connected with the front portion of said U-shaped lockingmember and extending through the front portion of the running-gear frame and having their upper ends slidably connected with the arms of the foot-support frame.

8. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a running-gear frame comprising side-bars and a front connecting member, front and rear wheel-forks pivotally connected with said side-bars adapted to fold inwardly beneath the running-gear frame, cross-bars joining said side-bars near the junctions of said front and rear wheel-forks, a handle having bars pivotally connected with the rear end portions of the sidebars of the running-gear frame, arms pivotally connected with said handle-bars, links pivotally connected with the front ends of said arms and having their lower ends pivotally connected with the side-members of the running-gear frame adjacent the intermediate cross-bar, said links being recessed at their front edge portions to accommodate the adjacent cross-bar in the folded condition of the structure, and releasable locking-means for securing the superstructure 1n the extended position.

9. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a running-gear tween said side-flaps and disposed above the connecting member thereof and movable longitudinally relative to said cross member as the device is folded, and a back flexibly connected with the rear portion of said seat.

10. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a running-gear frame, a handle pivotally connected with the rear portion thereof, arms pivotally connected with the side-bars of said handle, links pivotally connected with the front ends of said arms and with the side-bars of said running-gear frame, a U-shaped locking-member having the rear ends of its arms pivotally connected with the lower portions of said links, said U-shaped locking-meniber extending through the front portlon of the runn1ng-gear frame, a seat, and an ad ustable foot-support located between the arms of said U-shaped lockingmember and comprising a pivotally attached U-shaped frame, a pouch connected with the front portion of said frame, and supporting arms therefor pivotally connected with the web portion of said U- shaped locking-member and having their upper ends slidably connected with the arms of the U-shaped frame of the seat-support. ARTHUR J. ADAMS. In presence of- R. A. SGHAEFER, J. G. ANDERSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G, 

